AOP News 2009 Afghan
Presidential Election Coverage

Continuously updated. Check back for frequent updates.

In Afghanistan, the President is the head of the
executive branch. The President serves as the head of state and the
Command-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Afghanistan. He or she is elected by
receiving more than 50% of the votes cast through free, general, secret, and
direct voting. If none of the candidates for President receive more than 50% of
the votes in the first round, a run-off election is held within two weeks. In
this round, only two candidates with the highest number of votes are allowed to
participate. In the run-off, the candidate who gets the majority of the votes
will be elected as the President. The President serves a 5-year term. The
executive branch also includes two Vice Presidents and members of the cabinet.
Cabinet Ministers are appointed by the President and approved by the National
Assembly.